Ireland's south coast delivered a very special wildlife experience for guests on our Discover Wildlife Weekend on the West Cork coast of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way last week.We kicked off on Friday evening with shore-based views of Humpback and Fin Whales blowing offshore. That was followed up with some fantastic encounters with these iconic ocean giants out on the water … [Read more...] about Fantastic wildlife on our Discover Wildlife Weekend
The Ireland's Wildlife Blog!
Wildife and nature blog featuring an eclectic mix of wildlife, birding and conservation content from Ireland and around the world. Be warned there may be opinions flying around here....
Rose coloured starling on holiday in West Cork
Watching your local wildlife, even the familiar characters that surround you every day, is a rewarding and worthwhile experience. But it's always exciting when something a little out of the ordinary shows up.That happened here on the West Cork coast a few days ago, when news broke that a local birder had found an adult Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus) near Galley … [Read more...] about Rose coloured starling on holiday in West Cork
Update: Ireland’s Wild South Coast offer extended
Doing some admin on the Ireland's Wildlife Tours website today I noticed an issue with the SSL certificate renewal. That means that some of you may have seen a security warning when trying to access the site. The issue has been resolved so if you visit the site now you should see a reassuring green padlock in your browser address bar showing that any data you submit is … [Read more...] about Update: Ireland’s Wild South Coast offer extended
RTÉ puts Irish wildlife centre stage this spring
State broadcaster Radio Telefis Éireann (RTÉ) has announced an impressive array of wildlife and nature programming as part of its spring schedule. Hosted by passionate Irish naturalists and film-makers, the programmes capture and share the wonder of Irish wildlife.https://youtu.be/_2N8e9efhP4 Ireland's Wild Atlantic The season kicks off on the 22 April with the … [Read more...] about RTÉ puts Irish wildlife centre stage this spring
Seeing is Believing Photography Competition Winner
Huge congratulations to Chris Howes of Dublin, who was selected as the winner of our Seeing is Believing wildlife photography competition at the end of February.Chris's entry -- A fox cub reflects -- beat off some stiff competition to take the top prize of a fantastic pair of Vanguard Endeavor EDII 10x42 binoculars worth €400.Runner-up Dieter Waschbuesch came in … [Read more...] about Seeing is Believing Photography Competition Winner
Seeing is Believing: WIN a pair of Vanguard Endeavor EDII 10×42 binoculars
Ireland's Wildlife has teamed up with Vanguard to bring you a fantastic photo competition with a superb prize. We're thrilled to introduce our "Seeing is believing…" wildlife photography competition.We are looking for your best photographs that capture nature's wild side!The prize is an amazing pair of Vanguard Endeavor ED II 10x42 binoculars, worth €400.Email … [Read more...] about Seeing is Believing: WIN a pair of Vanguard Endeavor EDII 10×42 binoculars
The hidden creatures of the Glen — Glen of Aherlow nature trail
Ireland's Wildlife contributor Albert Nolan takes a walk around the woodland nature trail at the Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary... and discovers a hidden world of wildlife.Dark, threatening clouds were rolling across the Galtees and spilling into the Glen of Aherlow as I pulled into the car park. Showers of rain splattered against the car testing my resolve as I … [Read more...] about The hidden creatures of the Glen — Glen of Aherlow nature trail
Wishing you all a WILD St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick's Day is, naturally, a special day here in Ireland... and is celebrated by Irish people and people of Irish descent all over the world. And while St. Patrick is perhaps best known for reducing Ireland's biodiversity (thanks to him we have no snakes in Ireland, after all), let's not forget that St. Patrick's Day marks a pivotal time in the Irish wildlife … [Read more...] about Wishing you all a WILD St. Patrick’s Day
Peanuts for peanuts — 30% off — order yours now!
We've just heard from our Official Garden Wildlife Partner CJ Wildlife that they're offering 30% off their premium whole peanuts and 10% off all of their peanut feeders until the end of March.Peanuts are an excellent energy-packed source of nutrition for birds. With nesting season looming, adult birds need to pack in as much nourishment as possible, as efficiently as … [Read more...] about Peanuts for peanuts — 30% off — order yours now!
The wildlife of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar2HRSs5na0 Wild Atlantic wildlife Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way is about much more than wild scenery and windswept western coastlines. While the world's longest defined touring route certainly boasts some jaw-dropping vistas, and quintessentially Irish hospitality, the route also offers some of the best coastal and marine wildlife watching … [Read more...] about The wildlife of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
New collection of wildlife and nature writing published
Regular readers will know that I've been publishing articles profiling Irish wildlife on the back page of one of Ireland's most popular weekly magazine, Ireland's Own, since way back in 2001. Over the years I've had many letters from readers of the magazine asking if there was anywhere they could buy a collection of these articles in book form.Unfortunately the answer was … [Read more...] about New collection of wildlife and nature writing published
Competition: Win a pair of Vanguard Endeavor EDIV binoculars in time for Christmas
The Endeavor EDIV is the brand new flagship binocular from Vanguard.With their Endeavor ED range Vanguard broke new ground in terms of value and performance, delivering premium features and build quality at mid-range prices. With the EDIV the company raises the bar yet again, delivering a bright, razor sharp edge-to-edge image and an immersive field of view in a … [Read more...] about Competition: Win a pair of Vanguard Endeavor EDIV binoculars in time for Christmas
Christmas gifts with a wildlife twist
You know it’s coming. Big commercial brands have been pushing it since October, and yet somehow this most surreptitious of holidays still creeps under your radar.One day you glance at the calendar… and PANIC!Yes, Christmas is just around the corner, and with it the challenge of choosing something different, unusual and thoughtful for your nearest and dearest. Christmas … [Read more...] about Christmas gifts with a wildlife twist
Wild Friday deal — 10% off all Discover Wildlife Gift Vouchers until Sunday!
It's a "Black Friday" deal with a wild twist!We're offering 10% off our popular Discover Wildlife Gift Vouchers until the end of the weekend.Discover Wildlife Vouchers can be redeemed at any time for a place on one of our fantastic Discover Wildlife Experiences on the West Cork Coast. These vouchers make great Christmas gifts for the wildlife lover in your life, and … [Read more...] about Wild Friday deal — 10% off all Discover Wildlife Gift Vouchers until Sunday!
Win a pair of Eschenbach Trophy D binoculars
Thanks to the folks over at German optics company Eschenbach we're giving away the pair of Trophy D 8x42 ED binoculars we recently reviewed on the site.Optically excellent, the binoculars are superbly made and feature an intriguing contemporary design packed with high-end features. For your chance to win this superb pair of binoculars all you have to do is share this … [Read more...] about Win a pair of Eschenbach Trophy D binoculars
Fin whales to firecrests — wildlife extremes on the Wild Atlantic Way.
The wildlife of the West Cork coast never fails in its capacity to surprise and delight me. It doesn't matter how many times I head out, or how much (or indeed how little) I manage to see, there's always something that stands out.Even on those rare occasions when I don't see much out of the ordinary there's an entire cast of local regulars that make venturing out a … [Read more...] about Fin whales to firecrests — wildlife extremes on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Buzzards on patch… what a buzz!
I've always had a soft spot for buzzards.I grew up on the North Wales coast, where buzzards were relatively common. I'd hear their lofty mewling calls as I walked to meet the school bus in the morning, and would watch them soaring overhead in the afternoon as I returned home. They were a mainstay of my wildlife-watching education -- a fundamental component of my … [Read more...] about Buzzards on patch… what a buzz!
White tailed eagle: parent feeding chick photo gallery
On our spring Discover Wildlife Weekend in May I took the group to Glengarrif in Co. Cork to see if we could catch a glimpse of the white-tailed eagle pair that were breeding in the area. We got a bit more than we bargained for -- first seeing an adult fly in to the nest with food from a vantage point on the mainland, with food, and later witnessing an action … [Read more...] about White tailed eagle: parent feeding chick photo gallery
World class whale watching? Head for Ireland!
I'd had a fantastic day watching all manner of wildlife along the West Cork Coast with guests on one of our custom Discover Wildlife Tours recently. From basking sharks to choughs and jays, wildflowers and butterflies to common dolphins, minke whales, and much more besides... by any measure it had been an exciting day.We were finishing up the tour on Toe Head, a fabulous … [Read more...] about World class whale watching? Head for Ireland!
Island Bioblitz — head offshore for a wild weekend!
I'm off to the stunning Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork tomorrow to take part in Ireland's first ever Island Bioblitz.I was a member of the Bioblitz team at Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve in 2012. It was a fantastic event and a great excuse to take time out and spend a whole weekend immersed in searching for wildlife in an acknowledged biodiversity … [Read more...] about Island Bioblitz — head offshore for a wild weekend!
New TV show explores the wildlife of Ireland’s cities
A new TV show produced by Crossing the Line Films and due to air on RTÉ over the coming weeks focuses the spotlight on the wildlife living alongside us in Ireland's busiest cities.Wild Cities, a four part series that starts on Sunday the 08 May at 6:30 pm on RTÉ One, is set on the streets of Cork, Dublin, Galway and Belfast. From urban foxes prowling city streets after … [Read more...] about New TV show explores the wildlife of Ireland’s cities
The Wild Postcard Project: boosting awareness of Ireland’s Biodiversity
A new biodiversity art project aimed at Ireland's youth is looking to spread the word about Ireland's amazing wildlife far and wide with postcards. Founders Eileen Diskin and Angela Stevenson explain...A survey several years ago in the UK found that the general public is largely unfamiliar with the term ‘biodiversity’, with many respondents thinking it to be a type … [Read more...] about The Wild Postcard Project: boosting awareness of Ireland’s Biodiversity
Sharks are back!
Great news for wildlife enthusiasts -- sharks are back off the Irish coast.Basking sharks, the world's second largest shark species, return to Irish shores every year around the same times as swallows. Early sightings of these less well known but much larger harbingers of spring trickled in at the end of March from West Cork, and with an impressive record of 20 basking … [Read more...] about Sharks are back!
And they’re back! First swallows arrive at IWHQ
Yesterday was a special day.A lone, almost insignificant silhouette transformed the usually hum-drum task of dropping the car in to the garage into a wholly noteworthy enterprise. Elegant, streamlined, forked tail streamers fluttering in the breeze... the profile perched on the telephone wire was unmistakable: my first swallow of 2016.Seeing your first swallow of spring … [Read more...] about And they’re back! First swallows arrive at IWHQ
“Britain’s” Whales: stunning aerial humpback footage, filmed in Ireland
Humpback whales filmed off the south coast of Ireland last year will feature prominently in a new wildlife documentary to air on UK TV network ITV this coming Good Friday (25/03/2016) at 8pm.The film crew captured spectacular drone footage of humpback whales bubble-net feeding off The Blasket Islands in Co. Kerry in September 2015. Presenter Ben Fogle was with Irish Whale and … [Read more...] about “Britain’s” Whales: stunning aerial humpback footage, filmed in Ireland
